I would find it hard to belive that they would make an announce at CES which is A US trade show that it wasn;t going to be released in the US. UNless the 450 was not a CES announcement. When someone would approach me about product released out side the country we were told that this is a US intro we can not speak on product in other regions.

Strange how they moved the sensors under the VF, it kinda makes it look unfinished design wise, a big gap there.

It was clear that the A230 as not doing to offer anything to the type of buyer that chose the A200 as a starter camera to grow into.

The A450 is a great starter camera for someone on a budget or who wants a smaller offering (not tilt screen). There are people who will start to list features is missing.. but in the end it has 90% of what any photographer needs for what will end up being 60% of the price of a camera with those other features.

I suspect the A230/3XX line may go away and the A4xx/5xx line will slide down in price.. then next year we will see more A5xx and the A7xx maybe even a 6xx and Sony will have a great line from $500 USD to $2500 USD. I think the A7XX line will kick off a video DSLR addition to the system.

Sony has issues in the US.. a major one being the near blockade BestBuy has presented them with.. Being mostly an Canon shop.. Sony has been building out some quality smaller retailers.. good for them.. but they need volume sales and that needs big chains and they are not in there.. not sure if that is Sony's failure but it needs to be fixed.

They refuse to carry anything but the low end of the line. Even last week I found a kid who proclaimed.. "I am a phototgraphy major and I have studied the technology and Sony is using Digita Image Stabilization in its DSLRS and I would only reccomend cameras with Optical stabilization.."

Sigh...

Hi

Actually i think the 230/330/380 line will stay on the market, they are for the people changing from a compact digital, they are use to a little square box taking pictures, that range of cameras are basicly a fancy square box that you can change the lens on.

The 450/500/550 are aimed at the ex-film SLR market or the compact digital user that wants more from their pictures, they don't want a fancy square box, they want a real DSLR so they can do real shots.

THe 7xx/850/900 are aimed at the semi-pros those that go out and do weekend shoots, or the occasional pro shoot (eg, Me) and have lots of money to by $AU2500 lenses...

Puggs

I don't think the enhancements are enough v the A200, sure better sensor, and sensor LV, but it's simply not got enough features to be compelling, not for me. More fps does not a more advanced camera make, now..if Sony had made is more K-x ish, with real stuff that photographers want, then it might be a great buy, as it is, I see 6 models and none interest me.
I see no reason to feature strip for the next level up, and stuff that costs almost nothing to add. It's "Sony simple" as the top guy said, and for me, it's no thanks..

Sony risk losing a fair number of more advanced users looking for a reasonable cost body, that has decent features, they might just look about and think other makers offer more. Failing that, they might just buy s/h A mount bodies, prior to the over simplification taking place. Both scenarios mean less sales for Sony.

Having used an A200 for almost two years now I find the A450 totally compelling. I have no interest in live view, articulating screens or video. These days I rarely even use the screen for review. Nor do I need MLU, DoF and the like though I understand that they are important to many people.

The A450 addresses the only issue I have with the A200 by improving performance at 1600, 3200 ISO - great for museums, churches and event photography. I would have been happy with the A500 sensor but will take what's on offer. If Sony bring this in at a decent price body only I'll finally be ready to jump.

It may never be a best seller but for little extra cost Sony have produced a camera that appeals to a particular niche - the one that I am in.

I think better results can be had from the A200's 10mp sensor at 1600 ISO (from raw) than that of the A550/450's sensor.

I just think that Sony did a better job of processing jpegs at that ISO in certain areas, but fine detail isn't one of them.

The differences are minimal so keep that in mind, but either way I don't think in the end it would make that much difference to you at that ISO.

I could of course be wrong, everybody's view of IQ is different.

C

I saw the 450 announcement and involuntarily let out a yawn so big, the top of my head opened up!

I know that Sony is going after the P&S crowd, trying to get them to upgrade. But if they are relative newbies, is this many models with minor differences giving them options or confusing the snot out of them? I can barely keep up with them and I've been using an SLR/DSLR user for 27 years!

press to keep up with them too. Probably why we haven't seen many reviews of last years cameras in comparison to previous years.

I've had to re-think my whole review process/priority several times as a result.

C

Thanks for the thoughts Carl. I had the impression from some of the reviews I have seen that there was a definite improvement at higher ISO's. If that's not the case I might just invest my cash in a GF1 instead.

yes there is a list of features that are not on the new mid level cameras that have been on previous cameras. That is a trend Sony didn't invent.
but this is about feature trading vs stripping. In this case most of the removed features are probably valued by fewer people in the market. Many features are being added, that seem to be of value to many people.

What we are seeing is that the plastic "pro-capable" camera is going to be less likely. I read one rumor where the D90 replacement was losing the focus motor. So anyone wanting access to the full range of Nikon AF lenses will need to spend $1600+ next year, if the rumor is true.

There are plenty of new features the lots of people will like. Even the A200 which just made it over the bar for some, as stripped of A100 and KM5D features. I would say that there is more added against the removed in the A450 than with the A200 where I think the key added feature was a release price that was several hundred below the KM5D and A100.

the camera is really not so much stripped down and targeted towards the newer group of DSLR shooters that are moving up from other digitals and they are looking for.

As to IQ... the value may well come down to RAW vs JPG shooters. The RAW is not that much different though ISO is extended up some. But the jpgs are much more usable for how most shooters at this level will ever use them.

Me I am going to be happy with my A700 for a while too broke for the foreseeable future to even consider a new camera.

My first thought on seeing the announcement was that the 450 is to the 500 like the 850 is to the 900; the stepped down version, but with most of the features. Not a perfect comparison, of course, since the sensor sizes are different, but that was my initial guess. So I wouldn't be surprised to see an A650 and A730 or A750 announced together sometime this spring...

I see this is now available to pre-order via Jessops in the U.K. for £479 body only. There is, however no indication of when it will be in stock.

I think this camera would sell big time here! Don't know why they would make a decision like not selling in the U.S. Surely the market here hasn't been too kind to Sony, but this is just the type of camera for making the transition from P&S that they needed. Maybe the thinking will change. Do you think because it hasn't been announced here that it won't be a product for the U.S.? I'm starting to think like some others if they make this type of decision! I think this one would outsell the 500 series. JMHO!

I'm with you on this one! But I would rather see the numbers for the A-700 replacement reflect an upward progression such as not even having an A-650! (I know these numbers aren't set for anything yet) Just remember what the A-700 stood for and number everything else A-730,A750 and above. Anything less I would think would be taking away from the heritage of the A-700. I would be interested in a year or two in upgrading my A-700, but I'm not interested in video or LV, but would like intelligent preview and micro focus adjustment for lenses. But I don't want the articulating screen. It would seem strange to have the A-700 with an upgrade called the A-650! Maybe it's just me! :-) But I think it's rather odd! Hope the 500 series does well!

Just curious if Sony has said anything.
While I really dislike the new interface, to some degree the 450 convicts me from my own mouth:

• a year ago I asked for an A700 in a smaller body but similar internals
  If I could drill a second wheel into my A200, drop everything from the 700 inside it (and bring along that screen!), add I-P & price it a bit below the current 700 - that would be fine. (2-14-09)
• when the 550 came out I asked for a 530 w/o live view
  I'd hoped for something more in the spirit of the 200. I sure hope Sony doesn't give up on no-live-view cams between A230 and 850! (9-7-09)

In neither case did my 'perfect' camera materialize, since I expected QuickNav, the 920k screen and more durability - but the 450 is close to what I asked for. Internally it's in the ballpark, but clearly the A700 wins on nearly every feature related to 'pure' imaging (wider adjustment latitudes, mirror-lock, more-accessible functions). I'd still prefer a 12M sensor, but I'd manage. It would also be nice to use a single USB cord for camera, mp3, and gps connection, and the SD card would be handy in a half-dozen appliances including mp3, netbook, gps & my two P&S cams.

But.. when it comes to Sony dSLRs, I reserve the right to change my mind! Over and over again, as many times as necessary, until I buy again or dump it all (or as several apparently have done: both!).

A450 model will not be available for North or South American Territories. They believe the A500/550 are the right models for US customers.

I gotta say, for the price, the A500 is a great deal. Also that this is the first articulated screen Sony that I like for myself enough to keep in the long run, and that it is worth "getting over" the live view block. I use MFCLV more than quick AF live view anyways, but both are handy for what they do well honestly.

To me the A500 is built and feels much like the A200 only a bit sturdier, and has more features I like.

Its worth a look.

Carl

So someone in the U.S. who just wants a basic DSLR without Live View is forced to look at the dubious 230/330/380 lineup or other brands. That's really unfortunate.

"We believe" is a very common rationale for new product development and marketing decisions. One can read about the outcome of a lot of those "we believe" decisions in Robert McMath's book titled What Were They Thinking?--which is subtitled "Marketing Lessons I've Learned from over 80,000 New-Product Innovations and Idiocies."

Sony's brain trust is reminding me more and more of the guys at GM who designed and launched the Pontiac Aztek.

Andy

I think they would be better off with the A450 and no A230.. though the A230 showed up on lots of sites as the best priced Xmas DSLR.

What I am trying to figure out why the large account management for Alpha is stalled so badly. The smaller dealers are doing better.. but Sears carries less than they did. We all know the Best Buy is a disaster and they have had years to fix that.

IMHO... they need an A330 an A450 and A550.. choice is good but even I think they have just created confusion in the number of entry level choices... Confusion is a barrier to choice.

Carl this is interesting as usual. Is that maximum ISO for real? I read somewhere else that this particular model may be built specifically to handle available light and low light shooting. Maybe this piece of equipment when fitted with a sony 50mm f 1.4 lens it will be a low light daredevil.

Is the same as the A500 and A550.

I doubt this model is any different sensor/processing wise as the A550, if thats what you read?

Carl

Dear All,

I've been lurking around for quite some time, trying to absorb as much information as possible on sony's alpha dslrs. truly a greenie, newbie, beginner....

sony alpha 500 is not offered in malaysia. can't say the same for singapore and the rest of the south-east asian countries.

but if sony alpha 450 is introduced and offered to the SEA markets, and assuming Alpha 500 is not, perhaps the existence of alpha 450 will make more sense.

what we have here in msia is 230, 330, 380, 550, 850 and 900. the 200, 300, and 700 are still on sale, while stock lasts.

btw, just want to say, i like this forum very much. the information available is so detailed and so informative, i feel i've learned quite a big.

but still deciding whether to make the big jump and get a 550.

just my two cents.

awyc
kl, malaysia

Seems a shame that Sony isn't offering the 450 over here. It fits everything I'd like for an amateur camera, It doesn't have LV or video, but neither tickle my interest so its no loss. Seems like its priced reasonably on the Sony EU site. If I manage to get in a trip to Europe within the near future I would love to get my hands on one, or maybe they will release a similar camera here before then. However after reading what a Sony Rep said, I might not be too happy with the next alpha releases. Only time will tell.